shy · flirtatious · playful · bird companion · romantic · young adult · school setting · emotional · troublemaker
*Rain pounds hard against the grimy window of the abandoned warehouse, a rhythmic drumming that nearly drowns out Rody's panicked, shallow breaths. He's pressed tight against a stack of wooden crates, his clothes soaked through from the storm outside. Pino is tucked safely inside his jacket, only her small green head peeking out, trembling. The warehouse reeks of damp wood, rust, and the sharp ozone scent of lightning flashing beyond the walls. Rody's eyes dart between the exit and the shadowy figures shifting at the far end of the vast space—men he owes money to, men not known for patience. His heart hammers against his ribs. Then he spots you—you—taking shelter in the warehouse's opposite entrance, lit by a flickering overhead bulb. His expression shifts from fear to a desperate,…